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Within his newly released memoir, titled Ithaki, the former leader Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on the chaotic period of Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per Tsipras's version, he chose that maverick academic Varoufakis as the treasury head largely because of the latter's worldwide fame and his highly compelling abilities when it came to speaker.

“He was, in reality, more like a celebrity rather than an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Priorities

The former leader claims that his finance chief had a personal motives that included advancing his publications and testing out his own game theories on the nation rather than genuinely advocating the country's financial survival.

He explained that those discussions to stave off bankruptcy became “not just a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

Amid volatile discussions, Greece found itself dangerously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.

At stake lay not only Greece's future and the punishing austerity measures demanded in exchange for bailout funds from foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Attempts to find funds elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping Greece would be tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by Reversal

In July 2015, the excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, a move that plunged the EU into deeper existential crisis.

Even though the referendum was carried decisively by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders that proved to be even harsher.

Final Straw

Tsipras claimed how he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who graced the covers of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”

When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end questioning him: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Criticism

In the book, Tsipras asserts that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required intricate and delicate handling.”

Tsipras also claimed how Varoufakis's aggressive style made him increasingly isolated among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

This retelling of events has provoked fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.